August 29, 2025
TO: All Association Sisters and Brothers
RE: Lavatory Waste Removal – A Jurisdictional Concern
Brothers and Sisters,
During the last round of negotiations with American Airlines, the TWU/IAM Association formally proposed that aircraft servicing and cleaning duties be restored to our Utility/Cleaners within the Line operation. The company rejected this proposal, stating their preference to continue using non-union vendors for these tasks.
Now, management is attempting to assign lavatory waste removal—a task historically performed by vendors—to our AMTs working the Line. Let us be clear: this work is not part of your contractual responsibilities. It is vendor-assigned work and falls outside the scope of duties covered under our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Why This Matters: If the company succeeds in reassigning this work, it sets a dangerous precedent. What comes next? Fueling, washing, and buffing aircraft—all tasks that have traditionally been outside the AMT scope—could soon follow.
Know Your Rights: We urge all members to review your CBA and understand the work you are contractually required to perform. Do not accept reassigned duties that violate our agreement. Any unidentifiable fluid or liquids encountered during line maintenance should be handled in accordance with American Airlines operational manuals, to ensure proper safety and procedural compliance. If you are pressured or directed to perform non-covered work, report it immediately to your local representative.
To be perfectly clear on this issue, if American Airlines wants you to perform this uncovered work;
they need to negotiate the work into our contract.
We stand united in protecting our work, our standards, and our future.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Fraternally,
The Association Leadership